City and School Board Elections Set for May 3, Houston Congressional Special set for Nov. 4

posted on 4.21.2025

The next candidate election in Texas is a scant two weeks away on May 3.

The May uniform election date in odd-numbered years is utilized by many, but not all, Texas cities and school boards to conduct elections.

Early voting in the May 3 uniform election contests began Tuesday, and ends next Tuesday, April 29.

Several large Texas cities will have municipal elections such as the Dallas and Fort Worth city councils.

Perhaps the liveliest May municipal election is that of the City of San Antonio.

A whopping 27 mayoral candidates seek to win the post of retiring Mayor Ron Nirenberg who has served as mayor the past eight years.

The 27 candidates include former Texas Secretary of State Rolando Pablos; former Air Force

Undersecretary and two-time congressional candidate Gina Ortiz Jones; and four current San Antonio city council members – John Courage, Adriana Rocha Garza, Melissa Cabello Havrda, and Manny Pelaez.

Houston Special Election

Gov. Greg Abbott has added a TX 18 congressional seat special election to the Nov. 4 constitutional amendment election. 

Abbott received criticism for not ordering the special election sooner as waiting until November means that the district will not have true representation for seven months and that the vacancy makes the

GOP’s congressional margin one seat larger in the closely divided U.S. House of Representatives.

Abbott said in his view, Harris County needed more time to properly conduct a special election.

The TX 18 congressional seat is a longtime Democratic Party stronghold once held by the late Barbara Jordan.

The winner will fill the unexpired portion of the term left by the late U.S. Rep. Sylvester Turner, D-Houston, who died in March.

All candidates, regardless of party affiliation, will appear on the TX 18 ballot. If no candidate achieves a majority vote, Gov. Abbott would set the date for a special runoff election featuring the top two vote-getters. 

Candidates must file with the Secretary of State by Sept. 3. 

Several notable Houstonians have declared for the TX 18 election including outgoing Harris County

Attorney Christian Menefee and former Houston councilmember Amanda Edwards who ran for the post in the 2024. 

Early voting in TX 18 contest begins Oct. 20.

Questions? Contact TAB’s Michael Schneider or call (512) 322-9944.

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